(1)  Always hire remodelers that have all of their insurances, workers compensation and performance bonds.  Request written proof and call their insurance company to verify the validity.

(2)  Hiring on price alone is one of the biggest mistakes.  Many contractors may give you a low quote, but may continually request more money for change orders.  The difference in quotes is craftsmanship quality, grade of materials, warranty and scope of work.  If you go with the lowest quote, your project may be poorly constructed or may result in a unfinished project.

(3)  Always hire a remodeler that you can communicate with and has a permanent office address.  You want an established company with an office you can go to if you ever need personal contact.  Check out the address and how long they have been in the area.

(4)  Require detailed, written specifications, provided by each contractor to be able to compare proposals fairly and accurately.  Also, this will help to avoid confusion about exactly what is expected.

(5)  Require that any representative consulting with you on your project completely understand every nuance about their products and services, product features and benefits,installation specifications, warranty information and the like.  This will be of value in identifying potential issues before any work is started.

(6)  Have all parties that will be involved or have an interest in the project (spouses, parents, etc) at the initial consultations and then once the decision is made, determine the key contact person with whom the contractor will communicate.  This will make the project run so much more smoothly.

(7)  If you have changes, be sure to get written documentation on changes, cost and time, so that both you and your contractor are protected.

(8)  Ask for current references and see how long it takes for your contractor to supply this information.  A contractor who is confident and proud of their work will have this information readily available.

(9)  Communicate often with your contractor during the project.  If you have changes, questions, concerns or complaints, communicate them.  It is better to handle issues while materials, tools and labor are readily available and it could give you the end result you desire with less cost involved.

(10)  A small deposit is reasonable for ‘custom order materials’, such as custom sized windows as they will only work in each individual home and ensures a commitment to the contractor that you will complete the project and that the contractor will not be left with a warehouse full of custom materials.